Tushal Youth Club and Bansbari Club shared points after a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Martyrs Memorial ‘B’ Division League football tournament at the ANFA complex in Satdobato on Tuesday.

The result meant Tushal top the Group B standings with four points from two matches while Bansbari are fourth with just one point in the six-team pool. Bansbari’s Anuj Bhandari netted in the 10th minute of the match courtesy of a lovely through ball from skipper Sujan Limbu. Just two minutes later, Tushal goalie Binod Sodari appeared to trip Bansbari’s Roman Bhujel in an attempt to gather a Mahendra Karki freekick, resulting in a penalty. Bansbari captain Limbu stepped in to take the shot and converted it to make it 2-0.

Tushal should have pulled a goal back in the 19th minute as Manish Bhandari failed to put away a possible goal scoring header of a Dipak Bhusal freekick. Luckily, the miss didn’t prove too costly as Yubraj Dhakal struck an easy goal from well inside the area that was initially saved by Bansbari goalkeeper Manoj Pradhan in the 24th minute.

The second half was not as eventful as the first until the dying stages of the game. In the 90th minute, Tushal’s Manish Sedai’s shot crashed the woodwork and deflected into the post. Tushal would have completed a remarkable turnaround had not they missed a goal in the dying moments of the game. Bansbari goalkeeper Pradhan blocked a 25-yard Dipak Bhusal freekick but the ball fell nicely for Yubraj Dhakal, who should have done far better than shooting off target.

Jhamshikhel Youth Club and Nayabasti Youth Club played a goalless draw in the second match of the day. The outcome meant Jhamsikhel climb atop the Group ‘A’ Standings with four points from two games while Nayabasti two spots up to four with one point from two matches. The league does not feature relegation but the bottom teams from each group will see one point deducted in the next season.